Christopher Kane’s first season at Mulberry: Did he turn the classic Bayswater bag into clothes?
Who knew you could actually wear the shape of a bag on your body
Summary
- Christopher Kane has delivered his first collection since taking the helm at Mulberry, officially unveiling the Spring/Summer 2027 line.
- This season centers on a sense of contrast, effortlessly mixing mainstream and subcultural pieces, luxury items and practical designs.
- The outline of the classic Bayswater bag has been scaled up, transformed into sharply structured coats and dresses.
- The looks make bold use of stiff leather, paired with slouchy knits, casual sweatshirts and colorful parkas.
Christopher Kane’s first Spring/Summer 2027 collection at the helm of Mulberry has officially arrived. This season explores the beauty of contrast in British culture, turning the silhouette of the classic Bayswater bag into structured coats and dresses, then mixing in oversized knitwear, casual sweatshirts, and colorful parkas to create a new design language for the brand. Mulberry’s boxy, classic Bayswater bag has, in Christopher Kane’s hands, become clothing you can wear. His Spring/Summer 2027 collection, the first since taking the reins at the brand, makes it clear at first glance that he has no intention of playing by the rules.
He borrowed Bayswater’s structured, slightly architectural shape and turned it into leather coats and dresses. Worn on the body, they add distinct angular lines at the shoulders and waist, giving the look a powerful presence at first glance. Turning an accessory silhouette everyone already knows into the defining feature of an entire outfit is certainly an interesting approach.
Leather paired with a relaxed sweatshirt is a pleasantly unexpected combination
Beyond turning the bag’s shape into clothing, the material pairings that initially seem mismatched are what make you want to take a second look at this collection.
Christopher Kane layers the thick leather that usually feels so sturdy with a loose, oversized knit, or puts a casual, everyday sweatshirt underneath. Every so often, a brightly colored parka appears in the mix. These casually added windproof pieces instantly loosen up the otherwise serious leather looks and add a touch of street style.
The sense of contrast in British style
Pairing precious leather with practical windproof outerwear, or bringing traditional tailoring together with streetwise sweatshirts: that’s the new story Christopher Kane wants to tell this season. Rather than letting the brand remain defined by the quiet image of a British heritage label, he brings the slightly conflicting elements of everyday life into one look, as if wearing mainstream culture and subculture at the same time.
This first showing, slightly rebellious yet still suited to everyday wear, really does make you look forward to Mulberry’s next chapter.
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